Pages

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

If you have been following Kate for a long time, the Christmas Carol service at St. Luke's is an old favorite. Although the origins of the event are certainly tragic, it was a highlight of the Kate-Middleton-Spotting-Scene before she became a Duchess and regular international cover girl. Kate has not been back since her marriage, but as patrons, and close friends of the deceased Harry van Straubenzee, William and Harry are faithfully present, as is Carole, and often Pippa. Tonight, Carole and Pippa both made an appearance!

Both these lovely royal-in-laws look fantastic! I love Carole's forest green ensemble. It looks like she is wearing Aquatalia's "Rouge" booties, which are long-time Kate favorites.

Also, notice that she has a manicure in some autumnal shade, perhaps deep aubergine?

Is Carole also toting Chanel?

Roya Nikkah is a faithful correspondent of the night and she tweeted some snaps of the program and gave a brief account, although her full write-up will doubtless be in The Times, so look for that!

Via @royanikkah

The Christmas Carol program at St. Luke's began seven years ago. Here in 2009, Kate pulled her weight, lighting candles before the event, helping with refreshments, and cleaning up afterward.

Kate has attended other events benefitting the charity, here she is in 2008 attending an evening for the Henry van Straubenzee charity at Wilton Music Hall:

And a shot from inside the event that Harry, William, Beatrice and other royals attended:

sounddivision.com

The last time we saw Kate at St. Luke's was on December 2, 2010, exactly five years ago tonight. She took a break from planning her royal wedding to attend the evening and was snapped leaving in the gently falling snow.

Henry van Straubenzee's family is very close to the royals and he was a good friend of William and Harry. He was tragically killed in an auto accident. The Evening Standard ran a tribute to him in 2012:

Alex van Straubenzee, lying in bed next to his wife Claire, answered. It was the headmaster of Ludgrove Prep School, where their son Henry was teaching for a term before heading off to what was supposed to be the more dangerous part of his gap-year adventure, working at a bush school in Uganda.

"Your Henry's gone," the headmaster said. Alex asked him what he could possibly mean, but Claire, quicker than her husband to emerge from their joint state of semi-consciousness, answered the question for him as the awful realisation swept over her. "He's dead," she said simply.

The family launched the Memorial Fund and directed the focus on Uganda. For the royals, it's a lovely night to pay tribute to dear friend and his family, to support a cause they share in common, and to celebrate the Christmas season.

Oops, sorry for the confusion! By "faithfully" I was contrasting to Kate, whom we have not seen at the event in years. Barring a significant conflict, Harry is present. But, yes, he is in Africa. It has been hard to miss KP's tweets and Instagrams of the trip. :)

I cannot believe Kate didn't go to this. Especially since these event is such a big deal for William. For her mom and sister to go and her not to show up really bothers meI mean come on Kate your kids won't become seriel killers if you leave them alone for a few hours

I wonder... she has not gone there since they got married. And when she DID go there she looked like she was sneaking in and out of it. Maybe she is skipping going since then it might easily become "The Kate Show", so to keep focus she stays home? Just a theory.

This has nothing to do with leaving the kids alone. She has not attended since 2010. That year after their engagement she attended alone without William. It is obviously an arrangement that she and William have regarding this event. Carol and Pippa usually attend and sometimes only Carol. Never seen Michael at this event. Think your words are a bit harsh Anon 7.28Thinking of the people of San Bernadino tonight. Everything else is trivial when thinking of so many atrocities in today's world.

The excuse of it being the Kate show is a joke. She attracted a lot of attention when she went right after her engagement it makes no sense that she stopped goingEspecially when William has a personal connection to this event I would think a spouse would want to be there and support him

I lost my best friend when I was a young adult - in my early twenties. My husband met her a few times, but as we had just started dating didn't really know her. I still attend and host numerous events and anniversaries - sometimes my husband attends and sometimes he doesn't. He knows when I need him and when I prefer to reminisce with those friends who were close to her. I adore my husband too for the record. When you lose a good friend at that age it's a unique situation. There could be many reasons why Kate doesn't attend and she could very well be more supportive from afar. Who knows - I'm just saying that it's not black and white.

To engage in this, for me it speaks to Kate's decline in attendance at personal events in recent years. They rely on their nanny so they can go away on vacation or a night away, or so she can go to work. She is okay not putting her kids to bed some nights and is okay being away from them for hours at a night.

Since they've been married, and since they've had kids, her attendance has declined. I agree with Anon 8:48, I can't see this being about the Kate Show. Having Kate at your wedding means front page Daily Mail - a wedding souvenir many brides would love! Every bride I see featured on DM, because Kate or William attends, looks so happy and overjoyed. And as a former bride (still married) you are so happy on your wedding day you ignore so much and don't get bothered.

Kate went to this event pre-marriage and was very involved and smiley at the cameras. Engaged it *looks* like she's sneaking out. Married doesn't attend.

This isn't a Kate criticism, I just can't understand why she has rarely attended personal events since being married. We see her out doing errands/shopping, working/BRF events (which are all "work"), out with George....and we occasionally, rarely see her out doing fun, adult social events.

I see this as one of many personal decisions to be made between a husband and wife. Clearly, they have a happy and solid marriage that works. Where is the problem? I do not understand the need to knock her as being unsupportive or comments regarding serial killers. It's their business.

There are many possible reasons why she didn't attend. It has been pointed out many times that the nanny doesn't work 24/7. I think it is very possible Kate has backed off attendance at social events as it DOES bring out the reporters to cover her and takes away the focus on the event. Yes Kate did attend pre-wedding and look how she was hounded so it does make perfect sense that she doesn't attend these events to keep the attention on the event. The media would never have been there if they did not expect William and Kate to be there. As to her " Engaged it *looks* like she's sneaking out" not sure what you mean since she was representing her future husband while he was still working in as a search and rescue pilot or had another commitment so that he could not attend.

I think it is simply a question of priorities, that happens to every mother.She has the possibility of leaving her children when she whishes, that doesn't mean she always wants to. RF events can't be missed, this concert is optional. I also noticed she hasn't been spotted shopping for a long time

Disappointing...but it seems to be a trend that she misses a lot of social events. She opts out of attending many weddings, and hasn't been to this since she was engaged. Although, I also wonder, "where is Mike? Why does he miss a lot of social events, too?".

I also share your disappointment. It should have been a nice cause and out and about a bit with her hubby.Maybe next time.

What I find a bit strange that how many items she has in common with her mum. People say it a lot that her style is matrony and old sometimes. It could be an answer to that. Though I didn't find Carol's style ageing at all or boring. But certainly more than interesting to see some wearing both. But it is only me probably.

Der think Carole's style is very youthful for her age (not that she looks old or matronly, she definitely looks very good and not like 60 at all)I also have a similar taste in terms of fashion with my mom. I think this is also but not only this way because when you grow up, your mother pribably is your first 'fashion role model' if you know what I mean? Like you take on other thingd she does, for example how you cook this or that,..., you also take on her style a bit.

Sonja & Katie ~ I think our mom's are our first fashion role models; I definitely agree with that. I also think at some point, especially as a daughter's tastes mature, daughter's become their mom's fashion role models. Daughters can introduce their mom's to new things, or show them a new take on something. So I think it goes both ways, which is why you won't ever really know where the mom or daughter (or Kate/Pippa and Carole) influence each other.

I don't think it is bad that they all dress alike. Some families have members with very distinct, unique styles. Others don't. Personally, my mom and I have a lot in common with clothing...and a lot not the same. If one of us finds an item we think the other will love (like the perfect pair of wind and water resistant winter pants that include a super soft lining) we let the other know - we both have dogs to walk year round, and need winter apparel for that. I think it is reasonable that they have similar enough tastes, and share when someone has a great find.

It's also possible the Middleton's accept some freebies, due to their association with Kate. Remember how we've seen Pippa and Carole were seen wearing fur hats that were sent to Kate? Didn't Carole write a thank you letter that she couldn't give it to Kate, but she enjoyed it (?).

Carole's jacket looks like something you could find at Really Wild Clothing, which we know the Middleton's wear a lot of. I too thought it could well be a Chanel bag.

Why do we see Mike absent from so much? According to stories, he is quite the personality behind closed doors (fun and outgoing). Does he hold down Party Pieces, business-wise, a lot while Carole focuses on the family?

Anon 7:01 ~ I don't think they are passed on to Carole. They have enough money, and enough excuses to justify pairs of their own. I suspect someone bought them first, raved about them, and the other(s) bought their own. We have seen Kate wear hers on numerous occasions. I have a couple pairs, myself. I've even worn mine around London on vacation. So I suspect the Middleton ladies wear theirs plenty!

Anon 6:59am I do think that shows a lot about the two of them; however, I think it's a bit skewed because it was the first time they received that level of attention. Cameramen and photographers with reporters at their home; public speaking the world would see. Carole and Mike were both nervous - Carole's "oh deary deary"; their last walking sequence she was trying to hold his hand but he wouldn't, but earlier he was trying to put an arm around her waist. I don't think this was as rehearsed, and so in front of strangers knowing the world will watch was nerve wracking.

What I have seen since then is him dancing in the conga line at the charity event, and Pippa's book stating he likes to dress up in costume at Christmas. So I think he is probably outgoing in his comfort zone, but more shy when he's a fish out of water.

And while Carole is the outgoing "salesman" who probably built the business through networking and sales, I suspect he's the quiet operations manager that focuses on detail and efficiencies. Which is why sometimes I wonder if he's absent due to holding down the Party Pieces fort.

Yes, Carole is wearing a Really Wild Clothing coat, as you say, from Christmas last year. Sara messaged me on Twitter to point that out--great eye! Ashley noted that Pippa is wearing a French Connection coat which we have seen her wear to a wedding. They are lovely, aren't they? :)

Those 2 Middleton ladies look beautiful in their classy coats and their coordinating dresses/skirts! Have you identified that black coat Kate is wearing in 2008 with the pinky red dress? I like the texture & collar. Actually I'd love to see the whole ensemble written up in "Kate's Clothes"!? (Unless I've missed it?)

It's interesting to muse on Kate's personality. Is she a touch reclusive, like Mike? When she spent part of her gap year in Florence, her friends reported that her mother (when she visited) seemed to love the limelight, yet Kate was more like her father.....

Kate obviously has enough social skills and comfort to maintain friendships and small talk with strangers. But I do think she isn't as outgoing and gregarious as Carole and Pippa. I don't think she's reclusive in the negative sense, but being not only in the limelight, but under the microscope and constant scrutiny, I think her natural tendency is probably to avoid that. For example, she said she misses taking the Tube - I believe her.

Well, saying that she missed taking the Tube could have just been uttered because she was undertaking a royal engagement at a Tube station. I think she probably didn't take the London Tube very much after leaving St Andrews University, but drove. (or took a taxi) She was photographed on a bus in London once.

I think Kate goes for a classic look, and occasionally she has fashion-forward moment. Carole is in a different position, so a bold fun nailis something she can do with little fear of judgment for being "racy" or "trendy" or "not classic, like a royal", etc.

I think Kate could foray a bit more into some color without the fear of being called racy or trendy, although I agree that her mom and sister are in a different position. I think Carole's color could be categorized as a modern classic. Nice to see a "woman of a certain age" wearing a rich dark color.

Crown Princess Victoria and Princess Madeleine often wear dark nailpolish (bordeaux, eggplant,...) which looks good IMO. But I understand that Kate wants a more natural look. How about a sheer white or rosy nail polish like for her wedding? That'd be pretty. But I understand that it's not very handy for young mothers (at least that's what my aunt says - she has 3 and the youngest 2 are only 1 year apart)

But Kate doesn't wear as many royal jewels and flashy looks as Diana did. Different women, different times, different titles. I think we have seen Kate with dark toes once at an evening event, but usually she goes more conservative, and that seems to mostly be her royal look.

It may even be a coincidence. I imagine, While my husband's and my own mother and family is attending I would feel like I have a well-enough excuse to stay at home with the kids. She may seem like not minding leaving them for vacation etc, but I think we're underestimating the difficulty of their schedule sometimes (William has a lot of must-go-events around the year, which he can't miss because of a swim vacation, so maybe the one after George had to just happen) and she even may be still breastfeding or one of the kids might have catched a cold, where kids tend to be very needy, especially in the evenings/nights.I think sometimes we forget that they are human beings with children, and though they may have a lot of priviliges and helpers, they may sometimes decide with motherly instincts or plain fatigue.Maybe she feels like these more private events are the events to miss out on, whereas some others are more important for the BRF or the public.Fashion-wise: I have to complain that people tend to wear such dark colours in winter - especially the english, it seems - hahahaha. Allthough I understand that a memorial may not be the right event for a bright yellow dress, I wished these darkpalettes of fall (which are great in fall, when we still have golden leaves and much more sun shine) would vanish for winter and especially - christmas. Get yourselves some merry red coats, people and put out the glitter!! :D And certainly stop the brown or velvet.

Connect

Search The Site

Featured Post

The Duchess of Cambridge at Kensington Palace, Feb. 17, 2016 A number of you have reached out to me via social media expressing confusi...

Welcome!

Welcome to the blog! I am Jane Barr and I write From Berkshire to Buckingham. I am an American Anglophile-Francophile (Yes, they can co-exist. :)) I have been following Kate since she began dating William at St Andrews. I began the blog in my favorite Starbucks while living in Los Angeles, CA, just before William and Kate married. See my Welcome page (in the navigation bar) for more about the blog, and follow me on Twitter (@princesskate_GB) and Instagram (@fromberkshiretobuckingham) for more of my royal content.